David E. Kuck, 83
David E. Kuck, 83, of New Bremen, died at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater.
He was born on July 10, 1937 on the family farm north of New Bremen, the son of the late Ewald D. and Esther A. (Quellhorst) Kuck. On March 22, 1958 he married Shirley Hittepole and she died on April 3, 1982. He later married Beverly Berry on July 3, 1999, who survives in New Bremen.
Also surviving are his children Robert “Bob” (Cheryl) Kuck of New Bremen, Clinton (Amy) Bollenbacher of Ballwin, Missouri and Valerie (Greg) Pierson of Columbus. Also left to cherish his memory are his grandchildren: Andrew (Brenda) Kuck, Eric (Amanda) Kuck, Ben (special friend Jenna Heitkamp) Kuck, Allison and Emily Bollenbacher, Nathan and Kody Pierson; great-grandchildren: Leanne, Evan and Travis Kuck and Owen, Nora and Liv Kuck and siblings William (Tena) Kuck of New Bremen and Barbara Dill of Alexandria, Virginia.
Along with his parents, Dave was preceded in death by stepdaughter Teresa Woehler and siblings Frances Reese, Helen Haeseker, Lee Kuck and Lois Saintignon.
Dave had been a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen for most of his life. He had attended New Bremen High School until his junior year when he went to help on the farm. He started out as a mechanic at the former Tranco Truck and Service in New Bremen, and then in 1964, he went on to own his own business, Kuck Welding, which he operated for many years. He was a 30-year veteran of the New Bremen/German Township Fire Department, having spent 20 of those years devoted to being fire chief. With his ingenuity and welding skills, he even built fire trucks for several local departments. He was a member of the Buckeye Farm Antiques and spent countless hours working on his tractors, always getting them ready for competitive plowing contests across the country. Dave won many awards including national champion in these contests. It was a passion that he shared with his grandchildren. Dave’s legacy will live on though his work done for others and for the value of hard work that he passed down to his family.
Funeral services will be held on at 2 p.m. on Saturday at St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen with Rev. Becky Erb Strang officiating. Interment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery of New Bremen. Calling hours will take place at the church from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday prior to the services.
The family asks that masks be worn and social distancing be observed at the services. Memorial contributions in memory of Dave can be made to the New Bremen Fire Foundation, 214 N. Washington St., New Bremen, OH 45869, or to St. Paul UCC Memorial Fund, 119 N. Franklin St., New Bremen, OH 45869.
Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen has been entrusted with the arrangements and online condolences to the family can be left at GilbergHartwigFH.com.